From Amish Roots to a Life Redeemed
I was born into the Amish world — quiet, strict, and often confusing. But behind the rules and simplicity was a storm I didn’t know how to face. Addiction, anger, rejection — it nearly consumed me. But God met me in the middle of my mess. Today, I’m walking in freedom, purpose, and hope.
The Early Years: Growing Up Amish
I was adopted into an Amish family as a baby. My childhood was filled with silence and confusion — never truly feeling like I belonged. I struggled deeply with rejection, and over time, those emotions turned into anger, bitterness, and self-destruction. By the time I was 11, I had already fallen into addiction.
Breaking Point & Rock Bottom
At my lowest point, I was battling addiction, anger, and a broken sense of identity. I cried out to God, but it felt like silence. Eventually, I was sent to a counseling center. That week changed my life. I started to face my pain, open up, and let others walk beside me. It wasn’t easy — but for the first time, I saw a glimpse of hope.
Leaving the Amish: Choosing Freedom
I realized that unless I made a radical change, I’d never truly be free. So I made the hardest decision of my life: I left the Amish. There was no plan, no money, no backup. Just a deep conviction that I couldn’t heal in the same place I was broken.
The Weekend That Changed Everything
I was invited to a men’s leadership conference. That weekend, God broke through the walls I had built for years. I laid down my pain, my secrets, my shame — and for the first time, I truly felt free. It was like stepping out of darkness into the light.
A New Life — Built from the Ground Up
- • Engagement: Getting married in November 2025 to the love of my life.
- • Service: Served as a volunteer firefighter with the Greensburg, KY Fire Department.
- • Career: Taught myself web design; now a full-time designer at Troyer Websites.
- • Entrepreneurship: Launched Traditional Siding LLC.
